Ace the ‘What, How, Why’ Structure In VCE English Text Response

There are so many ways to structure your text responses in VCE English, one of the very popular methods is the “What, How, Why” structure. This structure helps ensure that your writing is clear, focused, and persuasive, making it easier for examiners to follow your argument and award marks accordingly. Keep reading for a thorough run down and a body paragraph structure, that finally makes sense!

What: Identifying the Key Idea or Theme

The “What” component of your response addresses what the author is trying to convey. This is where you identify the key ideas, themes, or arguments presented in the text. Think of it as stating the contention or argument that you will be analysing in your response.

You must be specific. Visit your ideas on the text: betrayal -> The text explores how betrayal leads to horrific acts. Infer the deeper ideas being explored. Add them to your planning.

• Put It All Together: Euripides portrays Medea as a powerful yet tragic figure who is driven to commit horrific acts as a result of Jason’s betrayal.

When writing your “What”, be concise and direct. Clearly state the theme or idea without delving into analysis just yet. This sets a strong foundation for the rest of your response.

How: Analysing the Techniques and Evidence

The “How” part of your response explores how the author conveys their idea or theme. This involves analysing the literary techniques, narrative structures, or language choices used to express the key idea. The “How” is where you provide evidence from the text, such as quotes, and analyse their significance.

How: Euripides uses dramatic monologues, vivid imagery, and dialogue to reveal Medea’s inner conflict, emotional intensity, and justification for her actions.

Quote: “I understand the horror of what I am going to do; but anger, the spring of all life’s horror, masters my resolve.

Put It All Together: Euripides uses juxtaposition and internal conflict to explore Medea’s complex psyche. The monologue format allows the audience intimate access to her thoughts, evoking sympathy. The juxtaposition of Medea’s understanding of “the horror” of her planned actions with her acknowledgment that “anger” controls her, highlights the tension between her reason and her emotions. This internal conflict is central to the tragedy, as it makes Medea a multifaceted character who is both aware of her moral descent and yet powerless to stop it, driven by a sense of betrayal and a desire for revenge.

In this section, it’s important to:

• Identify specific techniques: Mention techniques like symbolism, irony, tone, or character development.
• Use textual evidence: Always back up your claims with quotes or specific examples from the text.
• Explain the effect: Analyse how these techniques contribute to the overall meaning or theme of the text.

In most of my blogs around language analysis my main takeaway is: ANALYSE NOT SUMMARISE. This is where the analysis comes through in the ‘what’, ‘how’, ‘why’ structure.

Why: Explaining the Purpose or Significance

The “Why” addresses why the author has chosen to convey these ideas or themes. This is where you interpret the broader implications of the text and discuss its relevance. The “Why” often involves exploring the author’s purpose, the social or historical context of the text, and the intended impact on the reader. A skill you must employ in VCE English is reading between the lines, what is the author implicitly trying to say without explicitly stating it.

• Put It All Together: Euripides explores the destructive power of passion and the fine line between justice and revenge. By presenting Medea as both a victim and a perpetrator, he challenges the audience to consider the consequences of betrayal, the limitations of human morality, and the roles of gender and power in ancient Greek society.

OR

• Put It All Together: Medea’s actions force the audience to reflect on themes of vengeance, the societal position of women, and the consequences of unchecked emotion. The play ultimately serves as a commentary on the human condition and the complexities of justice.

In the “Why” section, aim to:

• Connect the text to its context: Discuss how the text reflects or critiques societal, political, or cultural issues.
• Consider the author’s intent: Why did the author write this text? What message are they hoping to convey to their audience?
• Discuss the impact on the reader: How does the text influence the reader’s perception or understanding of the theme?

Body Paragraph Structure

Argument/Topic: an idea you are arguing exists in the text. Use abstract nouns.

Analysis: Discuss how language has been used to create ideas.

Evidence: Weave “direct quotations” through your paragraph.

Inference: Discuss what the evidence you have selected suggests about the character or the idea in the topic sentence.  

Analysis: Discuss how language has been used to create ideas.

Evidence: Weave “direct quotations” through your paragraph.

Social-historical context: Discuss what the evidence you have selected reflects about people’s beliefs in that place at that time be sure it is relevant to your argument.

Author’s Intention: What comment is the author seeking to make about the idea in the topic sentence? Why?

Remember, the goal is to provide a deep analysis that goes beyond surface-level observations. By consistently applying this structure, you not only make your arguments clearer but also enhance your ability to critically engage with any text. Keep practicing, and soon this structure will become second nature, guiding you to your best writing.

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